6 Reasons to Stick with Walking

1. Your muscles will thank you. Not using your muscles can result in a slight loss of function every day. Without regular exercise, muscles become smaller and weaker, and weakness and weight gain from inactivity put stress on weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees and ankles. "The process is slow and easily gives the impression that lack of activity isn't really affecting you. However, many studies show that not using your muscles can lead to poor posture, limited range of motion and decreased strength," says Bennett Harrell.
   
   
2. You can reduce OA pain. Quadriceps muscle weakness has been directly correlated with pain and disability in people with osteoarthritis (OA), according to several studies published in the 1990s.
   
   
3. You'll improve your function. People with knee OA who were active in an exercise program reported less pain and better function, according to a study published in 1997 in the American Journal of Medicine.
   
   
4. You'll reap emotional benefits, too. Research shows that people who take part in their own care report less pain and make fewer doctor visits. They also enjoy a better quality of life, according to the American College of Rheumatology Criteria for the Classification and Reporting of Osteoarthritis of the Hand.
   
   
5. You'll be able to do more, longer. Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living of people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic OA, shows a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management.
   
   
6. You'll see results. People who participate in aerobic activities, such as walking, have been shown to have improved aerobic capacity and shortened time for walking 50 feet as well as decreased depression and anxiety, compared to people who perform only range of motion exercises, according to studies published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and Arthritis and Rheumatism.
   
   

<<PREVIOUS | NEXT>>

Just-Right Walking Plan | Before You Start | Tread on Me | Is Your Town Making You Fat? | Cool and Stretch | Top Walking Questions | 6 Reasons to Stick with Walking | Which Shoe for You? | Shoe Shopping Tips | Tie 'Em Right | Walk Better with Great Gear